Gameday: Bruins welcome Isles for series finale

(Photo credit: Sharon Bradley) Adam McQuaid is likely to return to the Boston Bruins’ lineup tonight as they welcome the New York Islanders to TD Garden.

Fresh off a shaky 5-4 victory over the New Jersey Devils where they nearly blew a 4-0 lead, the Northeast Division leading Boston Bruins return to the ice nearly 24 hours later when they welcome the New York Islanders to the TD Garden Thursday night. The Black and Gold can clinch a playoff berth with just one point or a win from the Florida Panthers against the Winnipeg Jets.

With Brad Marchand presumably out after taking a vicious – and suspendable – hit from Anton Volchenkov, the Bruins will look to sweep the season series against a surprising Islanders squad that is currently surprising many fans and pundits alike. The Isles come in with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 and sit in a three-way tie for sixth with their in-state rival New York Rangers and the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference standings.

While Marchand is being evaluated by team doctors today, the Bruins got some good news on the injury front. Patrice Bergeron skated during the team’s optional morning skate in hopes of recovering from his fourth concussion since 2007, while Adam McQuaid, who’s been sidelined since March 20th with a strained shoulder, is likely to return to the lineup according to head coach Claude Julien.

While he’s seen his share of struggles, Rich Peverley is red-hot over the last two games recording a goal and three assists in that span. Not bad for a guy who was a healthy scratch last month against the Sens, and not bad for someone who was bumped down to the fourth line in Julien’s recent line changes.

“I think it’s been [about] getting chances every game and sometimes the points come and sometimes they don’t,” Peverley said about his 2013 campaign. “If you’re doing that then hopefully production will come.”

The production has been coming for Peverley and Julien certainly notices that.

“I think he’s been skating more. He didn’t look like he wanted the puck, and now he’s willing to take it and carry it,” said the Bruins bench boss. “He’s playing with more energy and when he has more energy he’s skating better. Rich [Peverley] is a good player when he’s skating hard and he’s not second to the puck and he’s not second in the areas where he should be. So I think that part of his game is improved.”

Islanders to watch

It looks like John Tavares is finally turning the corner. Over his last five games, the former No. 1 overall pick has six points (three goals, three assists) and is a plus-three. It’s safe to say that the Bruins D will need to sure up and contain the league’s third leading scorer (24 goals) and fellow linemate Matt Moulson, who’s been a Bruins killer his entire career with 14 points in 14 career games against the Black and Gold

Bruins linkage

New England Hockey Journal’s Jesse Connolly breaks down last night’s win over the Devils.